Link mat



W. T. B ELL LINK NAT Dec. 4, 192& 1,693,803

Filed Jan. 19, 1925 Invenibf ll/illimn TBeZZ ew W71 Patented Dec, 4, 1928.

I ,1 1,593,303, UNITED STATES, rArsNr orFi c WILLIAM '1. BELL, QF conconn, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

LINK MAI.

Application filed January 19, 1925; Serial No. 3,295.

The invention pointed out by the claims of this application is 7 an improvement on my Patent No. 1,448,907, dated March 20 192i and is embodied in improved connections be- 7 tween the cylindrical wire pintle tie-rods and the flat-sided stifiener rods disclosed by said patent, whereby the strength and durability oi the mat, particularly at itscorner portions, are materially increased. V

Of. the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view, showa ing' an end portion of a link-mat embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is edge view of the same; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the flatsided stiffener rod shown by Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows'in perspective, an end portionof the cylindrical wire pintle rodshown by Figure 1, and one of itsconnecting arms.

' Figure 5 shows'in perspective, a portion of the stiffener rod and a portion of the pintle and engaged therewith. l

V Figure 6 is a section on line 6-,6 of Figure 1.

-Figure' 7 isan enlarged 7-7 of Figure 5.

The same'reference characters indicate tile same parts inall of the figures.

section on line The end portion of the mat shown by Fig on which the links are strung. The tie-rods. 14 are of cylindrical wire and are bent and extended to form connecting arms 16. The

, tie-rods 15ers flat-sided and'oblong in cross section, so that they constitute stifi'ener rods, which are adapted to be engaged with ter 'minal portions of the connecting arms 16.

The construction thus far described is identical with that disclosed by my patent, above mentioned.v The engagement of the connecting arms 16 with the stiflener rod 15 is effected in the patentedniat, by curved hooks, constituting the terminal portionsof the arms 16,-and 'holes in the end portions of the stiffener rod 15, and extending from side to side thereof, the hooks passing through the holes and forming protuberances projecting from the flat side's of the stiffener rod. These protuberances require enlargements oi the link orifices which receive the end portions oi the stiiiener rod and the ro tuberances iori'nedby the hooked portions of i the arm terminals, so that there a minimum thIClIHQSS' of wear-sustaining materia between the protuberances and, the external surfaces of the links. The linlrsare therefore undesirably weakened and liable to be worn downor through to the protuberances, until the corners or": the matprosent a frayed appearance. I obviate this objection by con-' necting the terminal portions 'ofythe arms the stifiener rods 16 with the end portions of 15, asnext described.

In the end portions-of the rods 15 I form transverse slots 20, opening. onone of the longitudinal ed es of the rod. 'On the con-i nect-ing arms 16 Iform angular terminals including straight portions 21, adaptedtod bearon said longitudinal edge, and straight portions 22,'adapted to'projeot intotheslots 20.- WVhen theportions 22-arc inserted in the slots, the connecting arms and theirter minals are substantially flush with the flat sides of the stiffener rod 15, as shown by Figures 5 and '2, there sing. no projection of the termmals'irom the sides, so that the orifices 23 in thelinks 12, which receive the end portions of the stiffener rod and the terminal portions of the connecting arms, may be parallel sided slots, spaced from the-extcrnal surfaces of said links 'byswear-sustaining'portions 12 (Figure ii, of maximum thickness, and free from liability of being worn through from the external-surfaces of p the links.

Although the terminal portions 22 may be retainer, in the slots 20 by the slots 23, I prefer torigidly secure the terminal portions in the slots 20 by means such as solder 24, shown by Figure 7,tl1e' elongation of the slots and the portions 22 enabling-a strong solder joint to, be formed therebetween.

It is obvious that the portions 22 may be. rigidly secured in the slots by other means, such as spot welding.

I In assembling ma at first be providec itha connecting th e members constituting the lustre-ted portion of the mat, the pintle rod 1 lti 'at one end oniy, for example the end: F

shown by Figureswiand 5"a'nd at the left in Figure 1, the rod being straight between j said arrn and its opposite end, sothat the the rod.

portion from which the other arm 16 is to be formed is in line with the main portion of 21, 22 of the connecting arm already formed as shown by Figure 5, and secured by solder if desired.

The two rods now connected at one end onlyextend side by s1 leand are separated at the ends not shown by Flg'ure and moved along the rods until the desired number of hnks have been assembled. hnks may then be compressed upon the rods by pressure forcing the links toward the =arm 16, already formed, until they are displaced V sufficiently to uncover the slot at the right in Figures 1 and 3, the compressibility of the sole leather ofwhich the links are made pera mitting this displacement. While the links are thus compressed, the right hand end of the rod 14 may be bent to form the other arm '16 and its angular terminal, and the right handend of the stifi'ener rod may then be engaged with the terminal last formed, solder being, usedif desired. Finally the compressing pressure on the links nay'be released so thatr the l nks may expand to their normal thickness, the, links at the right hand end covering, the righthand end of the stiffener rod 15Iand the terminal last formed on the rod 14,

Iyclaiinfl l 1'.A l1nk matwhich lncludes links arranged-"in overlapping groups; and a pair oftransverse tie-rods inseltedin orifices in the rows of links at the end portions of the met, one Yet the tie-rods being a flat sided stifl'ener of oblong cross section, provided 'Wlth slots in its end portlons, opening on the flatsidesof the rods, While the other red constitutes a pintle portion of cylindrical. wire, hingedly connecting other rowsoflinks,

and: angular arms bent from the pintle por- The, stiffener rod 15'may then he engaged with the angular terminal portion 0. so thatthelinks may be strung' on said ends tion and including terminals parallel with and secured insaid slots, said end portions and flat sides being in the. same plane, the arrangement being such that the said rods are inter-engaged, without forming projections and 'lreefr'om liability tobe Worn through in the links, one of the tie rods being a flatsided stiffener oi oblongcross section, while the other red constitutes apintle of cylindrical wire, and has tie-rod connecting arms at its-ends, the stifi ener 'od being provided wlth transverse slots located near ts ends,

and opening on one longitudinal edge, while the connecting arms are provided with angular terminal portions,-l)earing on said longitudinal edge andonthe sides of the slots, the eonneetingarms and their terminals being substantially flush with t-lie fiat sides of the stiffener rod, so that the orifices in the links which receive theend portions of'the stiffener rods and the angular terminals, are, spaced from the externalsurfacesa of said} links by ear-sustaining portions of maximum thickness, and free from liability to be; i.

worn through from the" external surfac'eskof the links. a V

3. A link mat as specified by claim 1, the

terminal portions projecting into the slotsbeingrigidly secured to the sides of the slots.

In testimonyhwhereof I have aflixed my a signature.

" WILLlA M'T. -TBELL. 

